The Shore Whaling Stations.

Charles Enderby, F.R.S., gives the following as the advantages accruing to whaling enterprise, conducted from shore whaling stations:—(1) Diminished cost of outfits, equipments, and repairs; (2) saving in the disbursements of the vessels, and their wear and tear; (3) cessation of trading by the masters on their own account, and its attendant evils; (4) acquisition of a superior class of men, and gradual formation of a valuable naval school; (5) increased security against dishonesty on the part of agents; (6) greater control over the operations; (7) considerable diminution of leakage; (8) saving in the interest on outlay, and in insurance; (9) increased profits; and (10) annual returns of produce, thereby ensuring a regular and sufficient supply of oil, and greater steadiness in prices.

In the selection of sites for stations, the same authority recommends:—First, the climate should be temperate, and rather approaching to cold. The oil may then be discharged, coopered, and placed in store for shipment to England without serious loss from leakage. Second, the station should not be so extensive, or so situated, as to permit of the stores being plundered with impunity, in consequence of the offenders being able to make their escape to the other settlements. Third, it should possess safe, commodious harbours, and have a plentiful supply of wood and water. Fourth, it should have a soil capable of producing vegetables, and of feeding cattle; a supply of vegetables and fresh meat being indispensable. Fifth, it should lie to the south of the Line, in the Pacific Ocean, for two reasons; first, because the whale ships proceeding to the common whale fisheries on the coast of California would have to pass twice over the sperm whaling grounds, and, on an average of voyages, would only obtain fifteen tuns of sperm oil; secondly, because the vessels carrying the oil on freight to Europe would have a shorter voyage and consequently the oil, after being coopered, would have to pass but once under a tropical sun. Sixth, the station should also be in the vicinity of places where vessels might readily be taken up to carry out to it, stores and provisions from thence, and others chartered to freight the oil to Europe; also where seaman might be procured when needed.

The equipment of one of these stations was as follows:—A pair of shears such as is employed in taking out and putting in ships' masts, to raise the immense carcases above water, so as to place them convenient for cutting up; try works, with furnace for melting blubber; a storehouse furnished with supplies of slops, spirits, cord, canvas, etc.; together with from three to five well-built and well-furnished boatts;—the total cost estimated at £1000 to £1200.

The scale of payment made to boat crews and station hands was the following:—Chief headsman, one-thirteenth; second headsman, one-twenty-eighth; boat steerer, one-sixtieth; boatmen, one-hundredth; cooper and carpenter, one-seventieth, or monthly wages to the last-named. The balance of the find belonged to the owner. These rates were based on New Zealand prices, not the prices realised in England.

Down to 1838-39 none of the owners resided permanently at the station. They were for the most part Sydney merchants. They visited New Zealand during the fishing season. After 1838 they were more accustomed to remain in New Zealand. They seem then to have operated from New Zealand, visiting Sydney periodically to dispose of the oil.

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The prices charged station hands were excessive. Tobacco, got from the whalers at 6d or 7d per 1b, was charged at the stations 3s 6d. Then they sold rum, which soon swallowed up any balance left, so that in effect the owners managed to swallow up the entire value of the take.

Rakitunma. (Preservation) was the first whaling station in Otago. It was established in 1829 by one Williams, of Sydney. That year it employed three boats and casked 120 tuns oil. In 1830 it employed four boats, getting 143 tuns. The three following years it employed the same number of boats, getting 152, 115, and 156 tuns respectively. It then appears to have changed hands; J. Jones and W. Palmer becoming proprietors. Three boats were employed in 1834, the yield 114 tuns; four boats in 1835, yield 176 tuns; and five boats in 1836, yield 170 tuns. The entire quantity of whalebone was 11½ tons. In round numbers these figures represented £1200 in New Zealand and £36,000 in England.

Awarua (Bluff Harbour), owned by John Jones, was in active operation eix years between 1838 and 1843. To 1841 it employed two boats, the take being 53, 80, 65, and 60 tuns respectively. In 1842 it manned three; next year the number increased to five. The take did not increase: 67 and 60 tuns being the respective amounts.

Koreti (New River) had two stations operating in 1833 They were in existence only a short time—not more than one or two seasons. They netted between them 120 tuns oil and 25cwt bone. Joss and Williams owned the one, and Brown and Carter the other.

Aparima (Jacob's River) was, in effect, a re-establishment of the Kereti stations. Mr Jones bought up and removed the equipments, of the latter, reconstructing them in the neighbourhood of Riverton. It commenced operations in 1839, and kept on till 1843. During that period it tryed out 331 tuns oil, netting three and a-third tons of bone. The first year of operations it took 80 tuns, next year (1840) 101 tuns. The year following it lowered down to 60 tuns; 1842, 40; and 1843. 50 tuns. At the then current rates the total amount realised would be £10,000.

Toi-tois was in operation two years—namely, 1835-36. It was owned by Chasland and Brown. What brought the place into notice was a capture of 11 whales in 17 days. There being no casks at the station, the oil was lost. Next year the produce was 30 tuns of oil, whereupon the enterprise was abandoned.

Waikawa was started in 1838 by one Groce, a Sydney merchant. His take was 50 tuns. Getting involved in the financial troubles of the period, he was forced to abandon. Mr John Jones was his successor. The take was never at any time good. In 1839 it amounted to 40 tuns, and next year fell to three and a-half.

Tautuku was owned by William Palmer. It was in operation between 1839 and 1843. It casked in all 245 tuns—the first year of operation (74 tuns) being its best, Thereafter it represented 72, 53, and 36 tuns, getting as low as 10, in 1843.

Matau, at the mouth of the Molyneux, was also owned by Palmer, but never did much work. It lasted only one season—1838; the take being 25 tuns.

Taieri, owned by G. and E. Weller, lasted three years—1839 to 1841,—realising in all 95 tarns. The last year's take fell as low as eight.

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Otakau was carried on by the same firm, between 1833 and 1839. Thereafter it was conducted by J. Hoare until 1841. Its entire take amounted to 1472 tuns oil and 15 tons bone.

Waikouaiti was in existence from 1837 to 1843. Owned first by Wright and Lang, thereafter by John Jones and others. Its take amounted to 448 tuns, with four tons and a-half of bone.

Moeraki was owned by J. Hughes; in operation from 1837 to 1843; casking a total of 441½ tuns.

[New Zealand and Sydney records are at variance with regard to some of these statistics. The latter state that Awarua, Aparima, and Waikouaiti ceased operations in 1843. A New Zealand record for 1845 has it that Waikouaiti, owned by John Jones, that year produced 40 tuns black oil and two tons bone. It employed three boats and 24 men. Bluff, owned by William Sterling, produced 12 tuns sperm, 26 tuns black, and one tone bone, employing three boats and 22 men. Foveaux Strait (Jacob's River), owned by William M'Kay, 23 tuns black and one ton whalebone; employing three boats and 22 men. The explanation probably is that after 1840 it became more of a local enterprise, independent altogether of Sydney, and Sydney would have no further interest in the record.]